The Blog

The Pakistan Policy Blog (TTPB), created in August 2007 by Arif Rafiq (bio below), provides a regular, critical perspective on Pakistan’s domestic and foreign affairs.

Its goals are to:

• stimulate discourse on policies furthering a prosperous, progressive, and secure Pakistan,
• and bridge the gap between the U.S. and Pakistani policy communities.

The TPPB, featured in the Online Journalism Review, has a loyal readership within the policy and intelligence communities and media in the United States, western Europe, Pakistan, and elsewhere.

Arif Rafiq Bio

Arif Rafiq is president of Vizier Consulting, LLC, which provides strategic guidance on Middle East and South Asian political and security issues.  Previously, he worked for the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution and public relations firms Ruder Finn and Burson-Marsteller. Rafiq also wrote speeches for a head of state in the Middle East.

His commentary has been published in a number of outlets, including: the Baltimore Sun, Christian Science Monitor, Daily Star (Lebanon), Daily Times (Pakistan), ForeignPolicy.com, Miami Herald, San Diego Union-Tribune, and World Politics Review.  Rafiq has been quoted by the Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and a number of international publications. He has appeared on Al Jazeera English, BBC Radio, the John Batchelor Show, MTV, and PBS’s WorldFocus.

Rafiq received an MA in Arab studies from Georgetown University and speaks Arabic and Urdu.

Media Inquiries

Rafiq regularly speak to members of the U.S. and international press.  As noted above, he has appeared on radio and television and in print.

Journalists and producers can contact him at: +1 (202) 713-5897/arif dot rafiq at gmail.com (or click here).